Barry Lewis: Monticello is doomed with Jenkins in charge

That towering mound of toxic demolition debris that now welcomes folks into the Village of Monticello may have sealed the legacy of Gordon Jenkins.

Barry Lewis

That towering mound of toxic demolition debris that now welcomes folks into the Village of Monticello may have sealed the legacy of Gordon Jenkins.

Considering the tens of thousands he probably will cost the village to clean up this mess, not to mention the environmental damage he needs to address and the possible long-term litigation fees taxpayers may be forced to bear because of his mismanagement, Jenkins is a failed mayor.

But he can't stop there.

His level of incompetence, combined with a blustery bravado and never-ending legal squabbles is just being wasted as acting village manager and mayor of Monticello.

Mayor Jenkins' talent belongs in dysfunctional Washington, D.C.

Folks living beyond Monticello's borders need to experience his I'll-tell-you-what's good-for-you form of leadership that, rest assured, will unfortunately cost taxpayers long after he leaves office.

You see, the genius of Jenkins is that you really don't know when he's going to act before he thinks.

Consider his decision to suddenly tear down the village Justice Court — left vacant in 2006 after toxic black mold was discovered in the building. Jenkins said he wanted to replace it with a new youth facility, with an indoor basketball court and weight room.

Fine. Admirable.

Cost to build? Jenkins said $600,000. He said the village would bond it, along with a major, planned renovation to Village Hall, the police department and lockup. None of that had been finalized, but that mattered little to Jenkins, who hired his friend, contractor Mike Soto, to demolish the courthouse for just $5,000. A good deal for a building with asbestos. Why the good deal?

Jenkins says Soto was "volunteering" because "the man likes kids."

Turns out he likes them so much he and five of his workers were charged with illegally dumping the asbestos-laced debris in the woods.

This isn't a one-time lack of judgment. For years, Jenkins has mismanaged and mishandled himself and his office:

He's pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of selling knockoff Nikes and bogus DVDs. As the village's chief fiscal officer, he failed to meet budget deadlines and conduct hearings. His board paid a South Nyack law firm more than $188,000 over 17 months for routine meetings and village business, tens of thousands more than other communities.

That same law firm managed to get Jenkins an expenses-paid trip to Africa. Also paid were his five-star accommodations on a trip to China, arranged by Tommy Ting, a Monticello developer who got a grant to develop Broadway buildings.

I could go on. And on.

Despite the recent elbow grease efforts of hundreds of volunteers from Sullivan Renaissance and the Bagel Festival to clean up the look and image of Monticello, Jenkins continues to put up walls that impede progress. Then manages to dangerously tear them down.